Take-up reel adapted to high speed rotation

ABSTRACT

In a take-up reel for use in taking up a tape, a pair of flanges are connected to opposite ends of a cylindrical reel hub in an axial direction thereof, respectively. A take-up region is defined between the flanges as a region where the tape is taken up. Each of the flanges comprises a plurality of vanes extending outward from the reel hub in directions different from one another. Each vane has an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion smaller in mass than the inner peripheral portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a take-up reel for taking up a tape such as a magnetic tape and to a tape drive, such as a linear tape storage system represented by DLT (Digital Linear Tape) or LTO (Linear Tape Open), provided with the above-mentioned take-up reel.

[0002] A tape drive of the type has been developed as a “backup” for use in a computer system. The tape drive is provided with a take-up reel called a spool and is adapted to receive a tape cartridge having a single supply reel (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,014). If desired, a magnetic tape is pulled out from the supply reel of the tape cartridge and taken up, through a magnetic head, by the take-up reel which is rotating at a high speed. An example of the tape cartridge is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-149491 (JP 2000-149491 A).

[0003] Development has been made about various take-up reels usable in the tape drive of the type. One of these take-up reels comprises a cylindrical reel hub and a pair of flanges formed on opposite ends of the reel hub in an axial direction thereof, respectively. The take-up reel is arranged in the tape drive in order to take-up the magnetic tape pulled out from the supply reel. When the tape drive is driven, the take-up reel is driven and rotated. As a result, the magnetic tape pulled out from the supply reel of the tape cartridge is guided to a position between the flanges and taken up around the reel hub.

[0004] In the tape drive, the take-up reel is driven and rotated at a relatively high speed. In this event, the take-up reel may suffer large wobbling in the axial direction, especially at its outer periphery. Such wobbling may cause unstable contact between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head, resulting in an increase in an error rate in data exchange.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a take-up reel in which wobbling is reduced even when the take-up reel is rotated at a high speed.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a take-up reel of the type in which a tape connecting operation is easy.

[0007] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a tape drive improved in an error rate in data exchange.

[0008] Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a take-up reel for use in taking up a tape. The take-up reel comprises a reel hub being cylindrical and having axial ends opposite to each other in an axial direction of the reel hub and a pair of flanges connected to the axial ends, respectively, and defining a take-up region at an outer periphery of the reel hub for taking up the tape. One the flanges comprises a plurality of vanes extending in radial directions of the reel hub, respectively. Each of the vanes has a first portion near to the reel hub and a second portion which is far rather than the first portion from the reel hub and smaller in mass than the first portion.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is obtained a tape drive using a tape cartridge containing a magnetic tape. The tape drive comprises housing having a slot for receiving the tape cartridge to be inserted therein, a motor mounted to the housing, and the above-mentioned take-up reel. The take-up reel is rotated by the motor to take up the magnetic tape in the take-up region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a take-up reel according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tape drive using the take-up reel of FIG. 1 in a state where an upper cover is removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, description will be made about a take-up reel according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The take-up reel illustrated in the figure is depicted by a reference numeral 11 and serves to take up a tape. The take-up reel 11 comprises a cylindrical reel hub 12 and first and second flanges 13 and 14 connected to opposite ends of the reel hub 12 in an axial direction thereof and defining a take-up region at an outer periphery of the reel hub 12 as a region where the tape is taken up. The first flange 13 comprises two vanes 13 a and 13 b extending from the reel hub 12 in a radial or the like direction thereof and in directions opposite to each other. The second flange 14 comprises two vanes 13 a and 13 b extending from the reel hub 12 in a radial or the like direction thereof and in directions opposite to each other. The vanes 13 a and 13 b of the flange 13 and the vanes 14 a and 14 b of the flange 14 are faced to each other in an axial direction of the reel hub 12, respectively.

[0015] Each of the vanes 13 a, 13 b, 14 a, and 14 b has a first or an inner peripheral portion 15 a near to the reel hub 12 and a second or an outer peripheral portion 15 b which is far rather than the inner peripheral portion 15 a from the reel hub 12. Each of the vanes 13 a, 13 b, 14 a, and 14 b has a width gradually narrowed from the inner peripheral portion 15 a to the outer peripheral portion 15 b. That is, the outer peripheral portion 15 a is smaller in width than the inner peripheral portion 15 b. Furthermore, each of the vanes 13 a, 13 b, 14 a, and 14 b has opposite ends 16 a and 16 b defining the vane width therebetween. Each of the opposite ends 16 a and 16 b is rectilinearly formed. Each of the vanes 13 a, 13 b, 14 a, and 14 b has a substantially uniform thickness throughout its entire area from the inner peripheral portion 15 a to the outer peripheral portion 15 b. Accordingly, in each of the vanes 13 a, 13 b, 14 a, and 14 b, the outer peripheral portion 15 b is smaller in mass than the inner peripheral portion 15 a.

[0016] Next referring to FIG. 2, description will be made about a tape drive.

[0017] The tape drive illustrated in the figure is depicted by a reference numeral 30 and adapted to removably receive a tape cartridge containing a magnetic tape (not shown). In the interior of the tape drive 30, the take-up reel 11 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged in order to take-up the magnetic tape pulled out from the tape cartridge. The tape drive 30 comprises a substantially rectangular housing 32 having a common base 32 a. The housing 32 comprises a sheet metal chassis made of an iron-based magnetic material. The base 32 a has first and second spindle motors 33 and 34.

[0018] The first spindle motor 33 is connected to the take-up reel 11 permanently mounted to the base 31 a. The take-up reel 11 is dimensioned to accept a magnetic tape (not shown) streaming at a relatively high speed. The first spindle motor 33 is called a take-up reel motor. The second spindle motor 34 is adapted to drive a tape cartridge. The second spindle motor 34 is called a supply reel motor.

[0019] The tape cartridge is manually or automatically inserted into the tape drive 30 via a slot 32 b formed on the housing 32 of the drive 30, as depicted by an arrow A. When the tape cartridge is inserted into the tape drive 30, the tape cartridge is engaged with the second spindle motor 34 by means of a loading mechanism which is not shown in the figure. Prior to driving of the first and the second spindle motors 33 and 34, the magnetic tape is connected to the take-up reel 11 (or a leader tape pulled out therefrom) by means of a mechanical buckling 35. When the first and the second spindle motors 33 and 34 are driven, the magnetic tape streams at a high speed, is guided to a position between the flanges 13 and 14 of the take-up reel 11, and is taken up around the reel hub 12. A plurality of guide rollers 36 define a tape streaming path between the tape cartridge and the take-up reel 11 and guide the magnetic tape as it streams at a relatively high speed.

[0020] The tape drive 30 further comprises a head assembly 40 having a magnetic head for accessing the magnetic tape in order to record or reproduce data to or from the magnetic tape. The head assembly 40 is positioned so as to face the tape streaming path defined by the guide rollers 36. During operation of the tape drive 30, the magnetic tape streams on the tape streaming path and comes into close proximity to the head assembly 40 while streaming. Thus, it is possible to exchange data between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head.

[0021] When the tape drive 30 is driven, the reel hub 12 of the take-up reel 11 is driven and rotated at a high speed. Consequently, the magnetic tape pulled out from the supply reel of the tape cartridge is guided to the take-up region between the flanges 13 and 14 and taken up around the reel hub 12. Since each of the flanges 13 and 14 comprises two vanes, it is easy to connect an end portion of the magnetic tape or the leader tape to the take-up reel 11.

[0022] In each of the vanes of the flanges 13 and 14, the outer peripheral portion is smaller in mass than the inner peripheral portion. With this structure, the vanes are hardly wobbled even if the take-up reel 11 is rotated at a high speed. This contributes to a reduction of factors causing unstable contact between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head. Thus, a decrease in an error rate in data exchange is expected.

[0023] As thus far been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment, it will readily be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment but may be modified in various manners. For example, in the foregoing embodiment, each of the flanges has two vanes. However, the number of vanes may be three or more. Furthermore, the take-up reel may have a structure such that only one of the flanges has vanes, each of which is narrower in width in its outer peripheral portion than in its inner peripheral portion, while the other flange comprises a disk plate or a pair of vanes each of which is uniform in width. In this case, the effect of the present invention is expected to some extent. Moreover, it is needless to say that the vanes may be modified in various manners in the axial or the radial direction of the reel hub. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A take-up reel for use in taking up a tape, comprising: a reel hub being cylindrical and having axial ends opposite to each other in an axial direction of said reel hub; and a pair of flanges connected to said axial ends, respectively, and defining a take-up region at an outer periphery of said reel hub for taking up said tape, one of said flanges comprising a plurality of vanes extending in radial directions of said reel hub, respectively, each of said vanes having a first portion near to said reel hub and a second portion which is far rather than said first portion from said reel hub and smaller in mass than said first portion.
 2. The take-up reel according to claim 1, wherein said first portion has a width which is narrower than a width of said second portion. 